U.S. Navy Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) had its keel laid down on 28JUN1995, at Ingalls Shipyard in Pasagoula, Mississippi. Launched on 14MAR1997.

LHD-6 was commissioned as USS Bonhomme Richard on 15AUG1998. Decommissioned on 15APR2021, due to massive damage caused by sabotage.

USN video, by Petty Officer First Class Keith Jones, LHD 6 departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for PacRim 2010:

2011 USN interview, by Petty Officer Second Class Lawrence Davis, of Seattle resident Sarah Meyer who is impressed by LHD 6:

Until April 2012, LHD 6 called San Diego, California, its home port.  Sasebo, Japan, became LHD 6’s new home port officially on 23APR2012.

In April 2014, during rough weather, LHD 6 took part in the search for victims of the sunken Korean ferry Sewol.  USN video by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Christian Senyk:

LHD 6 bridge ops during Sewol recovery operation, April 2014. USN video by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Christian Senyk:

USN video by Petty Officer Third Class Cameron McCulloch, 30DEC2014, securing the anchor chains of LHD 6:

2015 USN video by Petty Officer Second Class Matthew Dickinson, how to shoot a M2HB .50 cal from the LHD 6:

LHD 6 led Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) of 2015.  USN music video by Petty Officer Second Class Matthew Dickinson:

Timelapse video by Petty Officer Third Class Cameron McCulloch, MV-22B Osprey launch from LHD 6, 13MAR2015:

In April 2016, LHD 6 took part in humanitarian ops after the Kumamoto Earthquake, in Japan.  Video report by Seaman Michael Sanchez:

AV-8B Harrier operations onboard LHD-6, August 2016. USMC video by  Lance Corporal David A. Diggs:

March 2017 gunnery (M2HB, M240 & Mark 35) fest video by Petty Officer Third Class Jeanette Mullinax:

March 2017, Mark 15 Phalanx loading and burping, video by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Kyle Carlstrom:

In June 2017, LHD 6 was attacked by a Zombie Killer Tomato! USMC gunners repelled the attack using their trusty M240 light machine gun. USMC video by Lance Corporal Garett Burns:

July 2017, USN ‘birth canal’ point of view video, by Mass Communication Specialist second Class Diana Quinlan, of LHD 6 giving birth (and then taking it back!) to LCAC (hovercraft):

On 05AUG2017, one of LHD 6’s MV-22 Osprey crashed in The Coral Sea. Three crewmembers were killed.

USN video by Mass Communication Specialist second Class Diana Quinlan, showing use of World War Two era LCU (Landing Craft Utility) for amphibious ops, August 2017:

In February 2018, USMC Lance Corporal Richard Lin talks about his first impressions of LHD 6. USMC video interview by Lance Corporal Austin Weck:

U.S. Army photo montage by Sergeant Dahnyce Baucom, of Pacific operations involving LHD 6, February 2018:

In 2012, LHD 6 was ‘forward deployed’ to Japan. In May 2018, LHD 6 returned to San Diego, California.  The plan was to take part in the 2018 RimPac, then return to San Diego for upgrades that would allow it to handle the new super-expensive F-35 Lightning-2.  Dramatic USN music video by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Diana Quinlan:

USN video, by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Travis Litke, of hovercraft (LCAC) launch while the Star Spangled Banner can barely be heard in the background, during RimPac, 26JUL2018:

After what would become LHD 6’s final RimPac wargame, it made what would become its final port-of-call into San Francisco Bay, on 30SEP2018, for what would become its final Fleet Week. USN video by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Travis S. Alston:

COUNTDOWN TO THE END:

In a possible portent of things to come, on 31JAN2019 the crew of LHD 6, and the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and San Diego Federal Fire Department, conducted a damage control drill. Video report by Petty Officer Second Class Benjamin Kittleson and Petty Officer Third Class Gavin T Shields:

On 07FEB2019, LHD 6’s outgoing commander held an All Hands Call, explaining to the crew that they needed to be “Ready Now, Ready Always”, and announces a new self-improvement program called ‘Rise Above’, saying “We’re going to have resources to help you personally and professionally. We’re going to have new events and training every month. You’re never going to be Ready Now! Ready Always! if you don’t self-improve.  Our primary goal is to have you leave this command better than when you arrived.” Sounds to me like there was a problem with crew morale.

Then in March 2019, and despite the All Hands Call that indicated crew morale problems, LHD 6 was given the Navy’s Retention Excellence Award (supposedly for achieving 75% reenlistments in fiscal year 2018), which is also known as The Golden Anchor Award! Video report by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Gavin Shields:

In April 2019, an LHD 6 crewmember was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, for capturing a woman who was threatening a religious congregation.

In May 2019, the crew of LHD 6 conducted a quarterly ‘Safety Tune Up’.

In June 2019, an LHD 6 Sailor was killed in a single-vehicle accident, near Interstate 8 in San Diego.

On 21NOV2019, LHD 6 got a new commanding officer.

In April 2020, the crew of LHD 6 begins CoViD (Corona Virus Disease) Pandemic mandate ops.

USS Bonhomme Richard, 2022: PUNISHMENTS FOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP

2021: STEEL INFERNO, ONE YEAR LATER, SABOTAGE & LACK OF LEADERSHIP=DEATH OF A SHIP!

July 2020: INTO THE STEEL INFERNO!

KNIGHTHAWKS FIGHT TO SAVE LHD 6!

Cold War Battle Damage: USS TRIPOLI LPH-10 DESERT STORM

Cold War Subs: USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571), STILL FIGHTING AFTER 67 YEARS! FIRST BORN IN LAND-LOCKED IDAHO?

Vehicle I-D: THE MANY LIVES OF LST-786